Wockhardt Expands Access to New Antibiotic Miqnaf as Revenue Climbs 24%

NEW DELHI, Nov 2: Indian pharmaceutical company Wockhardt has expanded the availability of its novel antibiotic Miqnaf in the domestic market after the country’s drug regulator removed a supply related restriction, marking an important development in the company’s efforts to strengthen its position in the antibiotics segment.

The announcement was made alongside the company’s financial results for the second quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, which showed a 24 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated revenue.

Miqnaf, which contains nafithromycin, is a novel antibiotic developed by Wockhardt. The removal of the supply condition by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is expected to facilitate wider access to the medicine and allow the company to reach a larger patient population.

According to the company, it has already deployed a dedicated field force to support the product’s expansion and strengthen engagement with healthcare professionals. Wockhardt also reported increasing clinical acceptance of the medicine, highlighting its pathogen coverage and shorter treatment duration as important features.

The company is planning another regulatory submission for Miqnaf during the third or fourth quarter of FY27. The proposed application will seek approval for an additional indication covering upper respiratory tract infections, potentially broadening the medicine’s clinical use.

The development comes at a time when antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. The growing ability of bacteria to withstand existing medicines has made the development of new antibiotics an important priority for pharmaceutical researchers and public health authorities.

Antibiotics are essential for treating bacterial infections, preventing complications and supporting medical procedures that depend on effective infection control. However, the inappropriate use of these medicines, including unnecessary prescriptions and incomplete treatment courses, can contribute to resistance.

The availability of newer antibiotics may help address certain difficult-to-treat infections, although their effectiveness depends on appropriate clinical use, regulatory oversight and responsible prescribing practices.

Wockhardt’s latest announcement also reflects its broader investment in developing new antibacterial treatments. The company has been working on a portfolio of novel antibiotics aimed at addressing infections that may not respond adequately to existing therapies.
Revenue Growth Reflects Stronger Business Performance
Wockhardt reported consolidated revenue of Rs 969 crore for the September quarter, compared with Rs 782 crore in the corresponding period last year, representing an increase of 24 per cent.

However, the company recorded a decline in consolidated profit after tax, which fell to Rs 73 crore from Rs 82 crore a year earlier. The difference between revenue growth and profitability was partly associated with expenditure on preparations for the commercial launch of its other novel antibiotic, Zaynich.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) stood at Rs 165 crore, compared with Rs 160 crore in the year-ago quarter. After excluding pre-launch expenses associated with Zaynich, the figure would have been Rs 201 crore, according to the company.

The financial performance indicates that Wockhardt’s business expansion is being supported by several segments, including biotechnology, emerging markets and its branded pharmaceutical operations.

Its biotechnology business emerged as a particularly strong contributor during the quarter, recording revenue of Rs 252 crore, an increase of 68 per cent compared with Rs 150 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

For the first six months of FY27, biotechnology revenue increased 87 per cent to Rs 487 crore from Rs 261 crore.

The company attributed the improvement to growing demand in emerging markets and business opportunities across several international regions. Its operations in markets including Brazil, Thailand, Egypt, Algeria and Latin America contributed to the expansion.

Meanwhile, revenue from emerging markets increased 52 per cent during the September quarter to Rs 310 crore, compared with Rs 204 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Wockhardt’s India branded business also registered growth, with quarterly revenue rising 8 per cent to Rs 146 crore. Revenue from this segment during the first half of the financial year increased 14 per cent to Rs 303 crore.
Zaynich Approval Strengthens Antibiotics Portfolio
Apart from Miqnaf, Wockhardt has highlighted regulatory progress involving Zaynich, another novel antibiotic developed by the company.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Zaynich on May 29, 2026, for treating complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis, an infection involving the kidneys.

The approval was significant for India’s pharmaceutical research sector, as the company described Zaynich as the first drug discovered and developed in India to receive approval from the US regulator.

In India, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation granted manufacturing and marketing approval for the medicine on August 25, 2026.

The European Medicines Agency is also reviewing the drug’s application for several proposed indications, including complicated urinary tract infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, hospital-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia and bloodstream infections.

These conditions can be particularly challenging in hospital settings, where patients may have underlying illnesses, weakened immune systems or exposure to bacteria resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics.

Wockhardt has also reported progress across its other antibacterial products. Its portfolio includes Emrok, Emrok O, Miqnaf, Zaynich and Foviscu, which the company said have completed Phase 3 clinical trials.

The development of such medicines requires extensive research, clinical evaluation and regulatory scrutiny to establish their safety and effectiveness for specific infections.

The company also reported progress in international product registrations, patent development and biosimilar operations during the September quarter. It recorded 24 international product filings, 18 approvals and 11 launches.

During the same period, Wockhardt filed seven patents and received six patent grants, taking its cumulative patent filings to 3,298 and the number of patents granted to 865.
Antibiotic Resistance Remains a Major Healthcare Concern
The expansion of newer antibiotics comes amid increasing international attention to antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites develop the ability to resist medicines designed to eliminate them.

Bacterial resistance is particularly concerning because it can make routine infections more difficult to treat and increase the risk of complications, prolonged hospital stays and higher treatment costs.

Healthcare professionals have repeatedly emphasised that developing new medicines alone will not solve the problem. Hospitals, doctors, patients and public health authorities must also promote responsible antibiotic use, stronger infection prevention and improved surveillance.

Antibiotics should be prescribed only when medically appropriate, and patients should follow the instructions of qualified healthcare professionals rather than using leftover medicines or taking them without a prescription.

The wider availability of Miqnaf could strengthen Wockhardt’s presence in the domestic antibiotics market, but its long-term contribution will depend on clinical outcomes, appropriate use and the ability to reach patients who need treatment.

The company’s latest financial results and regulatory developments underline its growing focus on biotechnology and novel antibacterial medicines. As pharmaceutical companies continue investing in research, the challenge will be to ensure that scientific progress translates into effective, accessible and responsibly used treatments.